AROUND one million people aged 21 and 22 are today eligible to book their first coronavirus vaccination.
More than 970,000 text messages will be sent out inviting younger Brits to schedule appointments for both doses via the national booking system.
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Dr Emily Lawson, lead for the NHS COVID Vaccination Programme, said “the largest ever NHS vaccination campaign is in the home stretch of the first dose roll-out.”
She added getting the jab is “the most important step you can take to protect yourself, your friends and family so it’s really important everybody in the latest eligible groups books themselves in to get their jab and plays their part in this huge national effort”.
Latest Government data suggests that so far, more than 40 million people had received their first dose – nearing 80 per cent of adults in the UK.
And the rollout of second jabs to those in their 40s will be accelerated, he confirmed.
Now all over 40s are to be offered their second jab eight weeks after the first, instead of 12.
And almost 30 million have had a second dose – 57 per cent of adults.
But with millions still yet to receive a jab, the June 21 unlocking has been put on hold.
The vaccine programme is being ramped up in a race against the Delta (Indian) variant, which is causing a surge in Covid cases.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night said the target to give all adults (over 18s) in the UK their first dose by the end of July had been brought forward to July 19.
